Weather Forecast

Wheat test plot includes new varieties

By Russ PankoninThe Imperial Republican Researchers with Syngenta AgriPro® want to see how new varieties and some varieties under development will do in actual growing conditions. That’s why Jon Rich of Manhattan, Kan., central plains wheat breeder for AgriPro® brought a crew to Enders this week. Rich and his crew drilled three different tests plots on irrigated ground owned by Tom Luhrs. Rich said the plot northeast of Enders is just one of 24 the company will put in this fall. He said they have plots in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and South Dakota. Much of the wheat being tested this year, he said, is hard red winter wheat. He said they want to test their new varieties along with some of the up an coming wheat lines. He added they are testing some wheat that’s only in the second year of development. They will look for a variety of qualities in the different wheat strains, such as disease tolerance, quality, stand, etc. They are also testing a new fungicide seed treatment in this year’s plot. Rich said they have been working with Luhrs on the test plots for around 10 years. The University of Nebraska has also drilled a test plot at the same location.